Contenders wanting to lead GOP to debate
A second round of Republican electioneering began in earnest Monday among the six candidates vying to lead the Republican National Committee.
The intense but largely unseen race moves into the public spotlight in a debate sponsored by the Americans for Tax Reform, USA Today reported.
The RNC's 168 members choose a new chairman Jan. 28.
Challenging current RNC Chairman Robert Mike Duncan
are South Carolina Republican Chairman Katon Dawson, former Tennessee Chairman Chip Saltsman, one-time Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele and Michigan GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis.
Saltsman generated controversy by mailing RNC members a holiday CD that included the parody Barack, the Magic Negro
to the tune of Puff, the Magic Dragon,
and Duncan surprised many by seeking re-election, the newspaper said.
John Pitney, a politics professor at Claremont McKenna College near Los Angeles and a former RNC researcher, told USA Today that Saltsman's gesture was flat-out stupid
and should disqualify him, although Blackwell, who is black, said the mailing was of minimal concern.
Pitney called Duncan's campaign to be re-elected highly unusual. At the end of an administration, usually the chairperson leaves. That's especially true if an election has gone bad.
Besides losing the White House, the GOP lost 21 House seats and at least seven Senate seats, with Minnesota's seat still undecided.
While blaming Duncan for a disastrous election cycle isn't fair, Mississippi GOP Chairman Brad White said the GOP needs leadership that would come in with a new face and new ideas and better translate our principles into policy.
UPI
- Visiting U.S. diplomat pledges support for Moldova
- Yatseniuk proposes neo-isolationist third way for Ukraine
- Two ex-Transnistrian parliament speakers ask Smirnov to resign
- Moldova finances confidence building projects with Transnistria
- PM Vlad Filat: Moldova is not going to join NATO
- Moldovan Government appoints new deputy ministers
- Analysis: Black Sea Rivalry
- Iraq: Saddam Hussein and another ex-senior officials sentenced to death by hanging
- The rise and fall of Saddam Hussein
- 10 most important world events of 2005
- Report: Saddam Hussein has been executed
- Deadly blast at checkpoint near Peshawar
- Saddam Hussein handed over to Iraqi authorities, say lawyers
- Saddam Hussein's execution could be within next 48-36 hours
- Hillary Clinton determined to win the White House
- John Edwards running for White House
